One of the most perfect 12" singles to ever emerge came from 4AD supergroup This Mortal Coil performing Sixteen Days/Gathering Dust featuring Michael Conroy and Gary McDowell (Modern English), Elizabeth Fraser and Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins), Gordon Sharp (Cindytalk) and Martyn Young (Colourbox). The song is best experienced when storm clouds gather overhead and you feel speed against your face.

Inspired byTHIS MORTAL COIL

This Mortal Coil was a gothic dream pop collective led by Ivo Watts-Russell, founder of the British record label 4AD. Although Watts-Russell and John Fryer were technically the only two official members, the band’s recorded output featured a large rotating cast of supporting artists, many of whom were signed to, or otherwise associated with, 4AD. About half of the songs released were cover versions, often of 1960s and 1970s psychedelic and folk acts. On each of the band’s three LPs, at least one song would also be a cover of a 4AD artist, and most of the original songs were instrumentals.